Scouting West Chicago Wildcats

West Chicago Wildcats

Coach Kim Wallner.

Last year 15-14, 8-6, third in DuPage Valley Conference, lost to Geneva 54-32 in Class 4A West Chicago regional semifinal.

Top players Jessica Baids, sr., F; Izzy Bruce, sr., G; Katie Staiton, sr., G; Claire Monroe, so, G; Madeline Warkins, sr., F; Mary Connolly, jr., F; Liz Reyes, so., G; Jordan Nickelson, jr., F; Molly Monroe, sr., G.

Scouting report The Wildcats went through some growing pains last year. They hope to benefit from those growing pains this year, as well as from the feeder program started just a few years ago that helped win the JV and sophomore DVC titles in 2008. They have three third-year varsity players in Baids, an all-DVC pick, Bruce and Staiton. Monroe will be the ballhandler, and Reyes will get time in the backcourt also. "I'm pretty deep in guard play, which is not a bad luxury to have," Wallner said. The team lost 6-footer Emily Paschke to club volleyball. "It's not a negative thing, it's a positive thing for her," Wallner said. We still feel pretty good about what we have here." Still, Nickelson is now the only 6-footer on the team, though Connelly will add size off the bench. "That will hurt us a little bit," Wallner said, "so we're going to have to rely more on some of the other types of defensive things we can do besides shot blocking." Wallner isn't worried about the team scoring. Defense is the concern, as well as rebounding. "We can score from a lot of different areas," she said. "I don't think that's going to be a problem. We're gong to need to defend better and rebound better."